The story began

Li Changqing emerged from the Star Dou Great Forest in a bedraggled state, yet his eyes shone unusually bright, like cold stars tempered in flame, carrying a steadiness and sharpness beyond his years.

At a hundred and sixty centimeters tall, with that icy air about him, no one would have taken him for a child of only seven.

And that was exactly what happened. Passing Soul Masters saw his sorry state and simply assumed he was an unlucky Soul Master who had encountered a formidable soul beast in the forest and ended up like this.

After a few glances, they paid him no further attention and went about their own business.

Li Changqing entered Soul Hunting Town. People streamed through the streets, which were even livelier than they had been twelve days ago.

He did not linger, heading straight for the Hundred Beasts Hall in the center of Soul Hunting Town. He had noticed it when he first arrived twelve days earlier; it was the town's largest trading house for soul beast materials.

He did not know how much soul beast materials were worth on the Douluo Continent, so he chose the largest shop. Compared with other stores, its prices ought to be fairer, making him less likely to get swindled.

Li Changqing walked straight into the Hundred Beasts Hall, and a thick smell of blood hit him in the face. Had some pampered young noble been there, the stench might have made him retch on the spot. But after twelve days of living like a wild man in the Star Dou Great Forest, Li Changqing had long since grown accustomed to it.

The shop was filled with all manner of soul beast pelts, fangs, and claws, while several pelts from unidentified soul beasts hung on the walls.

Behind the counter, a slightly plump middle-aged man with a thin, drooping mustache was working an abacus over his accounts. Faint soul power fluctuations radiated from him, marking him as a Soul Master as well. They were weaker than Li Changqing's, though; he was probably only somewhere in the teens.

This was Wu Guangcai, the owner of the Hundred Beasts Hall.

Wu Guangcai looked up when Li Changqing entered. He took no notice of his ragged clothes, evidently accustomed to seeing people return in a sorry state after hunting soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest. Lowering his head to his abacus again, he asked casually, "Young man, what are you selling?"

Li Changqing placed a bundle containing materials from the Thunder Wolf on the counter and opened it, revealing the Thunder Wolf's pelt and fangs.

The Thunder Wolf's pelt was lightning blue, its hairs standing on end. Running a hand over it produced a faint electric tingle.

The fangs were white as jade, their tips gleaming coldly, razor-sharp.

Wu Guangcai glanced at the wolf pelt, and his eyes immediately lit up. He set down his abacus and stroked the pelt with both hands, feeling the electric tingle, then lifted it to inspect it carefully.

As he examined it, he said, "This is a Thunder Wolf's pelt, isn't it? There's still an electric tingle to the touch. Clearly, he hasn't been dead long."

Wu Guangcai set down the pelt and gave Li Changqing a somewhat surprised look before picking up the fangs for a closer inspection. "Judging by the quality of this fur and the length of these fangs, this Thunder Wolf was at least six hundred years old. Quite a rare find."

Li Changqing nodded. He did not know the wolf's age anyway, so he might as well go with the shopkeeper's assessment. He said evenly, "Apart from the head, the rest of the pelt is intact and undamaged. Name a price. If it's right, I'll sell it to you."

Wu Guangcai was rather shocked. A six-hundred-year-old Thunder Wolf was no easy opponent; even a Soul Elder above level thirty might not be able to handle him.

From the young man's reaction, it seemed he had hunted the wolf alone. Anyone capable of single-handedly killing a Thunder Wolf more than six hundred years old was far from ordinary.

Wu Guangcai did not dare give him short shrift. His face filled with smiles. "You've got real skill, young man. This Thunder Wolf pelt and these fangs are top-quality goods. How about this? I'll give you this much." As he spoke, he held up two fingers.

Li Changqing raised an eyebrow. "Two hundred Gold Soul Coins?"

Wu Guangcai nodded and said earnestly, "That's right, two hundred Gold Soul Coins. Don't think that's too little, young man. The Hundred Beasts Hall has been doing business in Soul Hunting Town for over twenty years. I, Wu Guangcai, can guarantee that no one in this town will offer you more."

Li Changqing considered it for a moment and understood. He thought two hundred Gold Soul Coins was rather generous. The shopkeeper had probably guessed that he was no ordinary fighter and offered that price to build a connection.

But as the saying went, "Only a bastard passes up a bargain." He smiled and said, "All right. Deal."

Overjoyed, Wu Guangcai hurriedly took a heavy pouch from his ring and set it on the counter with a clink of Gold Soul Coins. "There are two hundred Gold Soul Coins in here. You can count them, young man."

Li Changqing could not be bothered to count them. The shopkeeper did not look like he was lying, so he picked up the pouch and prepared to leave.

Suddenly, Wu Guangcai called him back. "Wait a moment, young man."

Li Changqing stopped and turned, looking at the shopkeeper questioningly.

Wu Guangcai glanced around and lowered his voice. "From the look of you, you've just come out of the Star Dou Great Forest. How long were you in there?"

"Twelve days. Why?" Li Changqing replied in surprise.

"Something earth-shattering has happened on the continent recently. I imagine you haven't heard yet."

Li Changqing ventured a guess. Judging by the timing, the only major recent event should have been Tang Hao's Wife sacrificing herself, Tang Hao breaking through to Titled Douluo, and then, with his newly attained strength, driving back Qian Xunji, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo. He had severely wounded Qian Xunji and made his name resound across the continent.

Despite thinking this, Li Changqing still shook his head.

Wu Guangcai lowered his voice even further and continued, "Five days ago, Tang Hao, the Clear Sky Sect's genius disciple, severely wounded Qian Xunji, the Pope of Spirit Hall, who had been hunting him down! Qian Xunji is at death's door right now. It's not even certain he'll survive!"

"What?!" Li Changqing put on a suitably astonished expression.

"They say Tang Hao had only just become a Titled Douluo when he wounded three long-established Titled Douluos, including Pope Qian Xunji, and escaped afterward. Strength like Tang Hao's is truly unheard of!"

As Li Changqing listened, countless thoughts swirled through his mind.

If that was the case, the hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor had already sacrificed herself, and Tang San had already been born. The story of the Douluo Continent had officially begun. Tang Hao should have taken Tang San to Holy Soul Village.

Li Changqing had not expected it to happen so soon. He had thought there would be more time. But none of that had anything to do with him. As long as they did not provoke him, he would not care even if Spirit Hall was wiped out.

Li Changqing smiled and nodded to Wu Guangcai. "Thank you for telling me."

Wu Guangcai waved a hand. "What's there to thank me for? The news has spread across the whole continent. Ask anyone and you'll hear about it. Only people like you, fresh out of the Star Dou Great Forest, wouldn't know."

He hesitated briefly, then continued, "If you really want to thank me, just sell any soul beast materials you get in the future directly to me. Don't worry, the price certainly won't disappoint you."

Li Changqing smiled knowingly. He had already guessed that this was the shopkeeper's aim, but he did not mind. A sale was a sale, no matter who bought the goods, so long as he was not cheated. "All right, it's settled, then."

Carrying a pouch brimming with Gold Soul Coins, Li Changqing left the Hundred Beasts Hall and walked down the street, letting out a long breath.

He found a clothing shop and bought several sets of fitted black outfits, then booked a room at a hotel, intending to get some proper rest and recover.